Lord Willing, tomorrow I will have the privilege of delivering a commencement address
at the graduation of Russell Collins of Middlesex, NJ, who will be graduating from Home
School. The above verse is one of the verses I plan to use for the message. One thing we
must keep in mind is that upon graduation, our real education begins. When we are studying
in school, it is normally in a sterile or sequestered environment which is suited for
learning. When we graduate, that environment is now traded for the reality of the day to
day world and all its pitfalls. Book learning only constitutes a very small part of a
persons life-long education. Hopefully, what we learn can be beneficial to, not only
ourselves but to others we meet along lifes journey. To the unbeliever, education
may be a hopeful stepping stone to great future of good jobs, big money, and an easier
life. To the Christian, education should have a different meaning.

As believers we should always view education as a vehicle to make a greater impact for
the Gospel of Christ on this present earth. This is why it is vital that we select our
educational goals very carefully. If we seek a career with the same frame of mind as the
unbeliever, then we will have neutralized the reason that God still keeps us here on earth
after we become saved. Our education must always be God centered and must be used for the
furthering of the Kingdom. A Christian that knows computers very well may easily start
their own business or work for a major corporation at a good salary. However, there are
also many good Christian organizations who may need the qualifications for a good computer
person to help in their outreach. It is a shame that too many Christian parents provoke
their children to get a good education and then a good job, but very rarely ever goad them
on to work for Christ in a ministry.

When God saves a person, their values and outlook on life should definitely change. If
they are truly converted their desire will be to help in the Great Commission. Many have
been saved at an early age and have been under the teachings of the Gospel. Our verse
tells us that we are to continue in what we have learned and that we should not allow any
educational learning to throw us off course by diverting our spiritual goals and desires.
The word continue carries with it the meaning of abiding or
dwelling. As Christians, our primary reason of existence is to the Glory of God and
not the aggrandizing of self. (John 3:30 KJV) He must increase, but I must decrease.
In that decreasing we find an increasing of Christian values and desires overshadowing our
personal needs and wants. There is nothing sinful about education unless our intent is to
use it as a catalyst to boost the Big I. Strive for humble intelligence and
God will use it for good. Strive for prideful intelligence and you are on your own. He who
has ears to hear! (5/30/03)